Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
I lift my eyebrows at that and bite my lower lip.
“You’re sexy without trying. Your hair and these freckles are my undoing. You have a little mole at the small of your back that I could spend an hour kissing. Don’t even get me started on your tits.”
I pull in a breath, and Xander cups my cheek so tenderly, I have no choice but to lean into his touch.
“When I tell you that I love you, I’m not saying that I love you for now. And I don’t use those words lightly, Ivy. We’re a we. Not just for now. Not just until I’m healthy enough to play again. So sell the house because you don’t need it. If you want to use it as an investment and rent it out, that’s up to you. But you don’t need to hang on to it just in fucking case.”
I swallow thickly and then lean my forehead against his chest, and he rubs his big hands up and down my back.
I didn’t know that I needed that reassurance. To hear him say that this is for the long haul and not just for now, while he’s here in Montana. Because I can’t imagine ever being without him, and I definitely don’t want to move back into this house.
“Okay. I’ll sell it.”
“Good.” He kisses my forehead. “We need to go meet up with Walker now, if you’re still up for it.”
I nod, and Xander leads me out of the house. I lock up behind us, and once we’re in his SUV, we drive into town to the coffee shop Buzz.
“I’ll have a small hot chocolate,” I say with a smile at the barista, and while Xander orders his drink, I pull my scarf off and turn to let my eyes scan over the café. It’s a nice place, with plenty of tables and chairs, and there’s even a fireplace in the corner, currently roaring away. It’s the middle of a weekday, so it’s not too busy, and Walker nods at me from a table in the corner.
Xander pays for our drinks, and when we have them in hand, we walk over to join the contractor.
“Thanks for meeting with me,” Walker says as we take our seats.
“It’s not a bother,” I reply with a smile and grip the hot cup between my hands, trying to warm them.
I’m always so freaking cold.
“Let’s talk about Lucky’s,” Xander says and looks down at me. “What are your thoughts, Red?”
I nibble my lip and look out the window toward the building that I used to know so well. Right now, it’s charred and roped off so no one goes inside it.
“The bar was never my first love,” I admit and turn back to them. “It was just what paid the bills, I guess. And it could have been so much more than it was. I always thought it would be awesome to make it into an actual pub with a kitchen. But I’d want it to be a sports bar. Sports themed.”
Walker nods. “That’s what I was thinking, too, actually.”
“Really?”
His lips twitch up into a half smile, and I blink at him because that might be as close to laughing as Walker gets.
“Yeah, and I think it would do well. I would change the name too.”
I nod in agreement. “I always thought the name was dumb, but my biological father, who started the bar, was Irish.”
I shrug, and Xander rubs a circle on my back.
“Okay, so what are you thinking, Walker?”
“I guess the first question is, do you want to sell outright, or would you prefer to have a partner?” he asks.
I look at the building again.
“Here’s the thing,” I say slowly. “I don’t want to own a bar. I don’t love bartending. Maybe a couple nights a month at the most. I’m good at it, but that doesn’t mean that I love it. I’m a physical therapist. That’s what I enjoy the most. So, I don’t think I want to own it at all. I think I want to sell it.”
Holy shit. In one day, I’ve decided to sell my family business and my house.
“I’m ready to buy it,” Walker replies. “But I understand if you want to list it to see what kind of offers you get. The building was old to begin with, and with the fire damage, it needs to be torn down and hauled away. So, you’d basically be selling a prime lot on Main Street in town.”
I nod and look to Xander. “What do you think?”
“It might be a fresh start to cut ties with something that hurt you, thanks to Brenda.”
Brenda made me hate Lucky’s.
But then Xander surprises me when he turns to Walker and says, “Are you looking for a silent partner?”
Walker’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Are you looking to invest?”
“In a sports bar in my hometown? That sounds sick, yeah. I’d be down for it. So if you need an investor, and if Ivy doesn’t object, we should talk about it.”